Overview

Tropical Storm Dando, a category one storm with associated winds (up to 70km/h) and moderate to heavy rainfall, hit southern Mozambique on 17 Jan 2012 and caused flooding and damage to houses and schools in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane. Heavy rainfall in South Africa and Swaziland caused a steady increase of water levels in the Maputo, Umbeluzi and Incomati Basins, flooding low-lying areas in Magude and Chokwe. (Office of the Resident Coordinator, 20 Jan 2012)

Cyclone Funso, a powerful Category 4 storm that moved slowly through the Mozambican Channel between 19-28 Jan 2012, caused heavy rains and flooding in southern Malawi along the Mozambican border, forcing 5,000 people to flee their homes. (AFP, 25 Jan 2012)

With no new cases of flooding reported in weeks, the combined impact of tropical storms Dando, Funso and Irina in Mozambique is as follow: 44 deaths, with 108,048 people (25,880 households) affected. An estimated 28,000 homes were destroyed, damaged or flooded, 735 classrooms and 31 health units damaged and 140,538 ha of crops affected, of which 41,979 ha were totally lost. The focus has now shifted to early recovery activities. (OCHA, 5 Apr 2012)

In southern Malawi, the situation has normalized and the majority of displaced have returned to their homes. However, around 4,328 people are still displaced in ad hoc shelter sites. Small to medium scale flooding continues to occur across the country. As of 12 Mar 2012 , an estimated total of 18,484 households (92,420 people) have been affected to some extent by storms and floods. (OCHA, 5 Apr 2012)

CHF 275,993 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 14 February, 2012 to support Malawi Red Cross Society in delivering assistance to some 6,159 beneficiaries.
Towards the end of 2011, heavy rains were experienced across Malawi leading to flash floods that caused destruction of houses, schools and other infrastructures. The rains affected the central, northern and southern regions of the country with Nsanje district in the southern region being among the worst a affected.

Food insecurity aggravated by production losses in 2012 in southern and central areas

Cereal harvest decreases in 2012 compared to last year

Harvesting of the 2012 main season’s cereal crops was finalised under generally dry conditions in June; however, localized heavy rains were observed in parts of the north that may have disrupted harvesting activities.

GENEVA, 27 August 2012 - The flood-prone coastal city of Beira in Mozambique was named today as the winner of the first RISK Award, a collaboration between UNISDR, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Munich Re Foundation and the Global Risk Forum, Davos. The €100,000 prize for project implementation is funded through the Munich Re Foundation.

Food insecurity aggravated by production losses in 2012 in southern and central areas

Cereal harvest decreases in 2012 compared to last year

Harvesting of the 2012 main season’s cereal crops was finalised under generally dry conditions in June; however, localized heavy rains were observed in parts of the north that may have disrupted harvesting activities.

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 and revised on 22 June 20101, and in particular Article 72 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 617/2007 of 14 May 2007 on the implementation of the 10th European Development Fund under the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement2, and in particular Articles 5.4 and 8 thereof;

While the countrywide post-harvest food security assessments are expected over the next few months, food security appears to be generally stable in most of the country, including areas affected by dryness and floods. Food is available in the markets and food access is currently favorable for the majority of poor and very poor households.

Food security conditions over most parts of Southern Africa remain satisfactory and conditions are expected to remain so throughout the Outlook period. The projected average to above-average maize harvests are assessed to be sufficient to meet the region’s requirements for the next six months and beyond.

Current reports indicate that household food access has improved and increased on-farm food supplies have eased the pressure on local markets. Prices have stabilized, and in some cases, started dropping.

Harvesting of the 2011/12 main season cereal crops is underway across Southern Africa and is expected to continue until June/July. Current crop prospects point to a slight decrease in maize production (the main food staple) compared to 2011, following a contraction in the area planted and a protracted dry spell in early 2012.

Since mid January 2012, Mozambique has been affected by severe seasonal weather including tropical storm Dando and tropical cyclone Funso. As a consequence, more than 40 people have been killed, and a total of 108,048 have been adversely affected. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that 123,000 hectares of cultivated land have been affected, of which 6,000 ha have been completely destroyed.